The Henson Journals

[61]

Whit Tuesday, May 22nd, 1923.

When we weigh the merits of the medieval church and have remembered all her good deeds, we have to put into the other scale as a weighty counterpoise the incalculable harm done by a marriage law which was a maze of flighty fancies and misapplied logic.

Pollock & Maitland, vol. ii, p. 389.

I wrote letters, played bowls with William, & read rather aimlessly. That is the whole history of the day.

The resignation of Bonar Law, which was announced yesterday, forms the leading topic of the newspapers . His Majesty's choice of his successor seems to be limited to the alternative, Ld Curzon or Mr Baldwin. The former has the stronger claim, but the latter is the better placed, for the days of Peer–premiers are over. It would be absurd to have the Prime Minister unable to cross swords in debate with any member of the Official opposition. We have evidently embarked on a period of such political instability that the record of public service counts for nothing, & the prize of leadership will fall to the man who at the moment happens to be "in the public eye"! I have a real desire to see the helm of the State pass into the hands of an Englishman: and I wish to see an end of the Scottish régime in the Church of England. But there is small chance of it!

---